natural wonder
Creux du Van
A vast natural rock amphitheatre with vertical 160m cliffs, a wild ridge-walk in the Jura.
29 km · about 35 min drive
Bourgogne, France · Europe
Pontarlier is worth a stop: 15 minutes from Les Fourgs, 29km from Creux du Van.
Pontarlier is a town located in Bourgogne, France. With a population of 20,313, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Pontarlier sits in France, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Paris time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Pontarlier to your route.
Pontarlier (French: [pɔ̃taʁlje]; Latin: Ariolica; Arpitan: Pontarliér) is a commune and one of the two subprefectures of the Doubs department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in eastern France.
Nestled in the heart of the Jura Mountains near the Swiss border, the town lies along the Doubs River and occupies theRead more
Arlier plain at approximately 830–837 m elevation. It is overshadowed by the Grand Taureau peak, which reaches 1,323 m.
Pontarlier occupies a site that has been inhabited since Neolithic times. Known as Ariolica in antiquity, it was an important transit point between Gaul and Italy. During the Middle Ages, it flourished as a trading hub on the route linking the Mediterranean and the North Sea. The city endured significant turmoil—most notably during the Thirty Years' War, when it was besieged and largely destroyed in 1639 by troops under Bernard of Saxe‑Weimar, and suffered multiple destructive fires in the 17th and 18th centuries.
At the start of the 19th century, Pontarlier became known as France's "absinthe capital" when Henri‑Louis Pernod established the Pernod Fils distillery in 1805. By the early 20th century, around twenty distilleries employed nearly 3,000 people, thanks to booming national demand. That era abruptly ended with the French ban on absinthe in 1915. The modern revival of absinthe since 2001 has reconnected Pontarlier with this storied past.
Today, Pontarlier is the leading economic and commercial hub of the Haut‑Doubs area. Its diversified industrial sector includes major employers such as Schrader (Valves), Nestlé France (producing Nesquik powder locally), and Hifi Filter France (specializing in filtration). The town has over 400 retail outlets, spread across multiple commercial zones, drawing shoppers from France and neighboring Switzerland. Pontarlier also supports regional food and beverage traditions. The Badoz dairy produces Comté and Mont d’Or cheeses, while distilleries like Pierre Guy continue crafting traditional absinthe, Pontarlier aperitif (anise-flavored), and other regional liqueurs.
Pontarlier has a rich architectural and cultural heritage. The Church of Saint‑Bénigne, reconstructed between 1651 and 1666 in the Romanesque‑Gothic style typical of Franche‑Comté, features an imperial‑dome bell tower and stained‑glass windows by Alfred Manessier, and is officially listed as a historic monument. The classical triumphal arch of the Porte Saint‑Pierre, erected from 1771 to 1773 to commemorate the town's reconstruction, stands as another major symbol of the city. The Municipal Museum of Art and History, housed in a 15th‑century manor, showcases archaeological treasures, regional artifacts, decorative arts, and items connected to absinthe.
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Pontarlier is located in Bourgogne, France, Europe. The coordinates are 46.9035 latitude, 6.3554 longitude.
Pontarlier has a population of approximately 20,313 people, making it a town in France.
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Full driving guide for France6 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
A vast natural rock amphitheatre with vertical 160m cliffs, a wild ridge-walk in the Jura.
29 km · about 35 min drive
waterfall
Fan of spring water pouring over moss-covered tufa terraces at Les Planches-près-Arbois in the Jura, at snowmelt one of France's most photographed waterfalls, minutes on foot from the village parking.
42 km · about 50 min drive
natural wonder
Western Europe's largest lake, shared with France, framed by the Alps and lined with vineyards, castles, and the famous Jet d'Eau fountain.
53 km · about 60 min drive
scenic viewpoint
UNESCO-listed terraced vineyards cascading down to Lake Geneva, cultivated since the 11th century with spectacular views of the Alps.
54 km · about 65 min drive
landmark
Jura abbey village folded into the junction of three blind valleys, hemmed by 200-metre limestone amphitheatre cliffs, with a 9th-century abbey and a cave-fed waterfall at the valley head.
58 km · about 65 min drive
famous road
France's ultimate driving route: ~700 km from Lake Geneva to the Riviera over 16 great alpine cols including Iseran and Galibier. Pin marks the traditional start at Thonon-les-Bains.
60 km · about 70 min drive
April to October
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